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This is not a food blog. I used to hate doing food reviews in F… hate is a strong word. Let’s just say it wasn’t my favourite part of my job. But I just want to share these stories and photos because my trip to Hong Kong with The Bag Hag/Ingrid was very much about food. And I enjoyed every single bite… too much.

Warning, looking at food photos past midnight will make you hungry.

We stayed at The Langham. I can still remember the scent of the lobby.

Our first meal was at Sweet Dynasty on Canton Road. I had duck noodle soup.

Ingrid had her HK usual – congee with special stuff 🙂

We met Geoffrey Wu of the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong (thanks to Charisse Chuidian and Erika Aquino of the Mandarin Oriental Manila). Geoff is wearing a black jacket. He took us to the opening of his friend’s restaurant called Canto Pop. Met editors of Luxe City Guides, Janice Leung (assistant editor) and Kee Foong (editor); and Ogilvy & Mather’s Tim Ho.

Thank you for my Luxe Hong Kong, Kee. When will there be a Luxe Manila? 🙂

This is Canto Pop.

They served fast-food and homemade-type snacks but everything was organic. Like this sausage was supposedly healthy.

The eggs they use are not only organic, they’re “music eggs.” The chicken listen to music while laying eggs… very interesting. So the yolks are bigger etc.

We also had roast goose at Yung Kee.

And roast pork.

Then we had ramen. And because I’m not a natural food blogger I don’t remember the name of the restaurant. It was in Causeway Bay though.

Ingrid insisted we have dessert at Yee Shun Milk Company. It was so yummy.

I had cold milk custard.

And she knew I needed caffeine in the morning before I could fully function as a human being. So she dared me to have half milk-half coffee. I could only have half of it. I could feel the caffeine running through my veins after one sip.

I found the best jeggings for my girls. This was on their wish list. It started with Sophia who “discovered” it in Orange Juice. She said it was like jeans but so comfy. So then Lily wanted it badly. But because they’re from a couple of seasons ago, Gingersnaps was already out of her size. But HK was still raining jeggings. So I got one for each kid in H&M and Giordano. Note that I do not wear such things. Jeggings are only cute and acceptable on kids, IMHO.

It was nice coming home to this.

Every night the staff at the hotel would leave these cute postcards with the next day’s weather. This was a good message.

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I went to Hong Kong with The Bag Hag last week. We’ve been friends for almost a decade but this was our first time to travel together internationally. In the years I’ve known her, I’ve been either pregnant, breastfeeding, busy with work and too attached to the kids and P that I never thought of traveling with my friends. But last week was much needed and much deserved. I was able to achieve a lot and progress with my work in those three days and in addition, I got to meet some very interesting people, thanks to Ingrid’s vast network of friends in the fashion industry.

I knew we’d be going to some fashion parties. My biggest dilemma was footwear. How to get from our hotel to our destination in uber high heels. I wanted to look fierce. LOL. But I gave it up knowing how much walking we really do in HK. So I went for height minus the pain. That means wedges and platforms. Then the heat was unbearable. It was almost impossible to wear black. I wore white cotton jerseys most of the time.

We got an invite to the “Boutique Boulevard” party at the Landmark. It was tricky, mall event. But this was quite spectacular.

The reception began at the Landmark atrium where they set the tone with these ornate Baroque and Rococo details. All the boutiques had their own mini reception – champagne, wine, cupcakes, candies and other party food.

They had models in period costume going around the mall.

And this very interesting hamsterball ballet dancing.

We came a little late and missed the celebrities. But it was a good mix of celebs, socialites and press people.

I loved what this girl was wearing. But I was too shy to take her picture. Plus, I had a bag in one hand, and a glass in the other… it was so hard to take good shots.

So we went boutique-hopping. This was at Celine. I think Phoebe Philo can do no wrong. She’s just so awesome.

Sigh… Celine.

And more sigh… Celine.

Then the gang moved to The Landmark Mandarin Oriental for dinner at MO Bar.

Then we went to the Four Seasons for Tory Burch’s show and party.

Nice party atmosphere.

This DJ played the happiest top 40 tunes.

Jennifer, Virginia of HK Fashion Geek and Ingrid.

Loved the view of the waterfront skyline.

A closer look at Tory Burch F/W 2011

Sometimes I wish we had four seasons here in Manila… fashion-wise.

More rich lady dressing.

Loved that velvet suit.

Patterns

The last outfit – bejeweled tunic – was stunning but it’ll be very tricky to not look matronly in real life.

I couldn’t believe how nice and accessible Tory was. She talked to everyone. Not just smile and photo-op kind of talk. She engaged everyone in conversation. Sweet!

Met Tory. She was really nice. She and her staff liked my necklace. I could have fainted. Told her I admired how she created a successful brand – a whole imaginary world – where everything was chic, cool, hip. Imaginary for me, but not for her. I love her!

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You may still be wondering why I’m bombarding you with Auction for Action information. I’ve been working with the UNICEF team on this for months. Prior to this, I’ve helped them educate moms all over the country on maternal health, mortality and breastfeeding. This time, I want to help UNICEF raise awareness and funds for all their other goals: providing children with health care, access to safe water and sanitation, education, and protection from violence, abuse and exploitation. I thought the best way I could contribute is by extending the goodwill of my friends… most of whom happen to be design superstars. And I know you, my readers are very much into design, art, style and fashion.

Here are some of the paintings donated by top artists for Auction for Action.

UNICEF focuses on reaching the poorest, most disadvantaged families in the Philippines, and through our partners we work and advocate to ensure children grow up healthy, go to school, are protected from harm and develop to reach their full potential. UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations from individuals like yourself (as well as corporations and governments) to fund its programmes for children.

There are more items up for bidding, this is just a preview. The complete catalog will be available online for viewing at Auction for Action goes live in eBay.ph/unicef on May 25, 2011. Counting on you to please spread the word.

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The rectangular plot of land located inside a gated community has a difference of elevation of about 8 meters, with the entry at the bottom of the lot. This left us no choice but to cut a portion of the lot to accommodate the garage and entry. Thus, creating the cut portion with the garage, bedrooms stacked one upon another; leaving the social spaces resting on the original elevation of back portion of the lot. The atrium with a bamboo courtyard holds the main circulation space of the house; this binds the social spaces and the private spaces.
Source: Zubu Design Associates

Last Sunday I featured this house in Cebu. I was very impressed with Buck Sia’s work. This house sits on a 250 square metre lot with a dramatic elevation of 8 metres. So it’s quite steep. Buck used whatever limitations the site offered and turned it into an advantage. The result is a stunning space that not only looks good in pictures but is also a success in terms of comfort. I’ve seen way too many homes that look good but are actually heat traps. Beware. An architect must know the principles of tropical architecture first before going nuts on modern design.

Dramatic foyer

From the foyer your eyes are drawn upwards to these dramatic spiral steps

Halfway through

Two flights of steps lead you to the top floor living room, kitchen, dining room and master bedroom

Harnessing natural light

Those steps lead to the master bedroom

Check out the ceiling

Windows on both sides make the narrow space feel a lot wider

Master bedroom. The headboard is part of the wooden structure that juts out into the living room area

The storage shelves continue from the master bedroom to the outside living area

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Patrick saw this Cambridge Satchel sometime last year and he wanted to buy me one and order my name embossed in it. Back then I was so sure I wasn’t a satchel girl. I didn’t even buy the Mulberry Alexa.

Patrick’s Saddleback Leather satchel.

I think Patrick’s satchel killed it for me. He has the “real one” from Saddleback Leather. It’s the type Indiana Jones would have worn in the Temple of Doom. It is huge and heavy. Real heavy. When this came in the mail, he wanted me to have one too. Like I said, I resisted.

Virginia of HKFashionGeek.com has the fluorescent yellow. I took this photo at the Tory Burch party in HK over the weekend.

Fast-forward to today, it seems that every blogger has written about and has ordered their own Cambridge satchel. I thought I wouldn’t fall for it, but when I saw she 11″ size, I couldn’t resist. I ordered from Schu in Rockwell.

Cambridge Satchels, available at Chocolate Schu Bar in Rockwell Powerplant.

I ordered the pink 11″. But when it came, I had second thoughts and compared it to the red one. In the end I chose the pink. I figured I could share this bag with Soph and Lily one day.